ok, then give us your thoughts on the ryder cup ro soemthing. LOL

Limpalong -
I'm not going to be argumentative but the "Choice" not to vote is a valid choice. It must be made conciously. You are guaranteed the "Right" to vote but are under no moral or ethical obligation to do so. If you do not vote you HAVE made a choice. The meaning of that choice is as ambiguous as the day is long. Each person has their own reasons for why they do or do not do things. It might be apathy or it might be that the choices provided do not fit the criteria that a person has for the position. Being disenfranchised does not simply mean that a person is not provided the opportunity to vote.
Unfortunately, for good or for bad, choices have been made and rules and laws passed that virtually assure that only the representative of one of the two majority parties will be elected to the leadership of this country. Therefore if neither of those parties represents your views and philosophy you have nowhere to turn.
As an American Citizen I exercise my right to vote in each and every election I am eligible to participate in. As a personal opinion I think each and every citizen should do the same. However I also understand that other people will make the choice not to exercise that right. That is their right.

Later,

You are 100% correct!!! In my heart, I will always feel the freedom to vote brings with it the obligation to vote. Yet, you are correct that the freedom we enjoy includes the freedom to choose whether or not to cast our vote for the offered candidates.

I have trouble with some of those items/issues such as you point out. I am a huge proponent of reinstating the draft. I would like to see each and every young person... male or female... rich or poor... educated or drop out... each citizen need to serve their country for two years. That could be working in local hospitals or cooking in soup kitchens or, actually, serving in the military. Yet, my son who spent 15 months taking fire in Iraq will argue those feelings of mine are completely wrong!!! He says our freedoms for which he is sworn to protect include the freedom to serve or not to serve. He feels to draft people, unwillingly, into service to their country would be completely against the freedoms he fights to preserve.

No, you are correct!! It's just difficult to admit some of my personal feelings may be less than defendable. That won't necessarily change my voicing those feelings. You see, after being married to the same beautiful lady for 42 years, I'm used to being wrong!!!!

I like the 42 years married line, that's classic and I'm LMAO. :-}

Who's right and who's wrong? That's a hard question to answer. Most times history has to be the judge.

Later,

Did ya watch the "Speech" last night ?????

They were FROM Osama.......er...i mean...Obama though !

Wouldn't put it past any of them,,,, !!!!